-yay! another chapter! I have no clue why I took a break. but the next chapter might not happen for a while, jsyk
Dang?
I hold my breath as Slarb tries the first key in the hole and relax slightly when it fails.
“Hullo, Slarby,” another Fang strides in, Brak.
“Brak, I told you not to call me that,” Slarb insists, watching me as he hangs the key back on their hook.
Brak looks over at us, “So, we get to deport ‘em, eh? I love watchin’ ‘em wriggle when we put ‘em in the carriang, don’t you, Slarby?”
Slarb’s voice sounds strained when he responds, “Yes. Deporting them all. It’s probably worse for them in the long run anyway,” He wipes his mouth with his forearm and watches me, eyes reflecting the candle light, “much worse in the long run.”
They leave and the others wake up shortly as I fill them in.
“We have to figure a way out of this,” Janner insists, “If there’s anything Popo taught me, it’s that there’s always a way out.”
“But that’s Grandpa, a one-legged man playing Ships and Sharks with little kids. This isn’t a game,” Tink adds.
“I know this isn’t a game, Tink. But it won’t do any good to argue with someone bigger than you,” he says, bumping Tink’s arm.
After a few minutes, Leeli and Kalmar fall asleep. Janner paces across the cell.
“It won’t do you any good to tire yourself out,” I say after a long break of silence.
“What?” Janner turns to me, noticing I’m awake.
“If you want a better chance of escaping, don’t tire yourself out pacing. Sit down and think of something. Or sleep. I’m sure they’ll make you walk yourself into the Carriage.”
He finally sits down, but it’s obvious he won’t fall asleep.
“Maddie?” He asks after a few minutes.
“Yeah?”
“Why did the Fangs come?”
“I . . . don’t know. They’re looking for something, I’d guess.”
“Why don’t you get told to watch out for Tink and Leeli ever but I get told every day?”
“Because,” I tell him, “I’m used to it. And I’m two years older than you. I’ve been told to protect y’all more than you think.”
We fall back into silence until Leeli wakes up and looks over to the window.
“Did you hear that?” She asks, “I think it’s Nugget. Nugget! Is that you, boy?”
There was part of an argument outside that I couldn't understand, then a thud as Gnorm walks in, Slarb lying unconscious on the floor behind him.
Gnorm walks over and grabs the keys, unlocking our cell.
“You’re most fortunate, children. Someone thinks you’re worth a few shinies,” He wiggles his fingers at us, decorated with Annieran rings.
“So . . .,” Janner checks, “we can go?”
“Yes. Out of my sight.” Gnorm hurries the other three out and pulls me close.
“Touch one of my soldiers again,” He hisses, “And a thousand chest of gold won’t save you or your family.”
He pushes me back and I let myself fall, but not hard. I push myself up and head out the room and past a sitting Slarb, glaring at us.
As we reach the outer door, Nia stands pale and waiting.
Very good! I’m really enjoying this!